There was a lot of buzz when Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA icon Carmelo Anthony, announced his decision to sign with Syracuse in November. The program holds special significance for the Anthony family, as Carmelo won the national championship with the Orange back in 2003 and the move was greeted with immense enthusiasm. Having impressed in the EBYL last summer, everyone was eager to see him in action for Long Island Lutheran High School before his college move. But those plans were dampened in the season opener.

On November 30, playing against St. Joseph’s, Kiyan suffered a hard fall on his back during a dunk after he tried to avoid an opponent who was trying to block him. While the injury was deemed not serious, he was sidelined and missed a month of games. This also meant that he missed the game against LeBron James’ son’s school, Sierra Canyon. However, on Thursday, Kiyan made a major announcement on his return to action and Bryce was all for it.

Talking to SportsCenter NEXT, Kiyan mentioned that he would return to play for the La Porte Invitational at 3 p.m. Friday at the Civic Auditorium in La Porte, Indiana. The Invitational is a nationally televised basketball showcase featuring 11 of the best high school programs in the country.

LuHi (8-6), led by Anthony will face Veritas Academy (NY) in the annual showcase. Kiyan will be joined by the No. 5 national prospect Chris Cenac Jr., a Houston commit, and Arkansas signee Darius Acuff, the No. 7 prospect with IMG Academy, through the weekend’s action. As SportsCenter NEXT shared the news of Kiyan’s return to action on Instagram, Bryce was quick to show his support.

He shared the post in his IG story with the caption, “Right to it.” Bryce James’ message is more than just a casual text—it’s a nod of support from one young athlete to another. Bryce, who himself committed to Arizona at the start of the new year also suffered an injury and missed the first nine games of the season. However, the nature of the injury was not disclosed.

The two young prospects missed the chance to play against each other due to their injuries when LuHi took on Sierra Canyon on December 13. But they did share a moment on the court.

After Long Island Lutheran’s 65-50 win, both injured stars greeted each other on the court.

Both players are well aware of the big shoes they have to fill. While Bryce garners attention due to LeBron and his brother Bronny’s presence in the NBA, Kiyan has been growing at his own pace.

The 6-foot-5 guard was the No. 32-ranked prospect on 247Sports composite rankings when he signed with Syracuse in November. He also averaged 19.6 points per game in the EYBL last summer. While he’s got his own style, His scoring ability, particularly from the mid-range, mirrors his father Carmelo’s smooth style; Kiyan’s definitely carrying that family legacy forward.

He’s carving out his own identity and making a name for himself, and that’s why he’s one of the most exciting young players to watch. While we didn’t get to see Bryce and Kiyan compete against each other earlier this season, they have gone up against each other before.

When Bryce and Bronny squared off against Kiyan Anthony

On December 12, 2022, Sierra Canyon took on Christ the King High School- Kiyan’s former school. The game featured both Bronny and Bryce taking on Kiyan. The game saw Bronny put on a show, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists while Kiyan hit 2-of-4 from 3-point range and finished with eight points.

Sierra Canyon saw out their opponents 62-51, with LeBron James sharing his enthusiasm before the game on social media. Notably, it was in 2002, when he dropped 31 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in a win against Oak Hill Academy, Carmelo Anthony’s former school.

Both LeBron and Carmelo gave fans countless moments of thrills and excitement on the court. They will now hope their sons can replicate that and carry on the legacy.

Both are bound to be elite players, and we could see them go head-to-head in college or even in the NBA—either way, it’s going to be big!